76 replies to this topic

[Gina]

Christian, on 17 December 2010 - 12:38 PM, said:

Ryan H., on 17 December 2010 - 12:21 PM, said:

What a trainwreck.

My thoughts exactly. Maybe they can get 60 Minutes to do a follow-up segment?

Epic trainwreck. They should rewrite the book Not Since Carrie just to include this, and retitle it Not Since Spider-Man.

[Gina]

Hoo boy.

http://www.myfoxny.c...er-man-20101220

[SDG]

[Gina]

He's said to have cracked or broken ribs and possible internal bleeding, but word on the BroadwayWorld forums is that he's awake, talking, and in good spirits. Thank God it wasn't worse. I also read that they're putting new safety protocols in place -- hope they're thorough about it!!

[mrmando]

You'd think Spider-Man of all people would perform with a net.

[John Drew]

The woes just keep on coming.

Injured Lead Actress Leaves Broadway's 'Spider-Man'

And if that weren't bad enough, a couple of critics have come out with reviews of the previews, which is kind of a taboo line to cross. The early reports are not too good.

Angry Reaction as Theater Critics Cross the Line on 'Spider-Man'

Quote

This past weekend theater insiders were surprised when two critics, Jeremy Gerard of Bloomberg News and Linda Winer of Newsday, crossed an unspoken line and published their takes on Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, more than five weeks before opening night on February 7th....

... Her (Winer) piece was less a review than a report, though she did acknowledge that the show’s vaunted flying effects are “exciting and scary, in a circus way,” and that director Julie Taymor was “said to be making much-needed changes to the meandering book, especially in the weak second act.” The rest of the criticism came from audience members Winer interviewed, one of whom complained the music was “weak” and another who said she “didn’t think this is theater for adults.”

... He (Gerard) praised the sets, lighting and choreography, acknowledged the short-lived thrill of some of the flying effects, but came down hard on the show itself: “an unfocused hodge-podge of story-telling, myth-making and spectacle that comes up short in every department. Can it be saved? Ask me on Feb. 8.”

[Overstreet]

This week's New Yorker cover.

Edited by Overstreet, 10 January 2011 - 01:41 PM.

[Peter T Chattaway]

Doesn't load.

[Overstreet]

Fixed.

(For some reason, I am having trouble posting image links on A&F. When I do, all I see is a link, not an image.)

[SDG]

FWIW, Glenn Beck -- who apparently sees a lot of Broadway shows -- has been raving about how mind-blowingly brilliant this show is.

[John Drew]

The cover of this weeks The New Yorker.

[Overstreet]

As usual, U2 has invited Steve Lillywhite to the project.

[Gina]

Overstreet, on 10 January 2011 - 01:24 PM, said:

This week's New Yorker cover.

Ouch!

[Christian]

The Washington Post ran a negative review this morning. ("Taymor has found a way to send her superhero soaring above the audience. And yet, the creature that most often spreads its wings in the Foxwoods is a turkey.")

I'm currently going through the New York Times review, which calls the show "not only the most expensive musical ever to hit Broadway" but "among the worst," and "so grievously broken in every respect that it is beyond repair."

But I hear Glenn Beck loves it and has seen it four times. (I'm not a Beck-hater, but I know others on this board are.)

And yet ... the public fascination with this musical has me wondering if it might be a hit. The tone of those reviews -- one of the "worst" musicals of all time -- would kill any other high-profile show. But have the audiences agreed? From what I've heard, some who have seen the show really dig it.

[Ryan H.]

For SPIDER-MAN: THE MUSICAL to be a "hit" and recoup its losses, it would have to be a hit unlike any other. Somehow, I don't see this being the new PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Even if it doesn't tank right off the bat, will it have the legs that it really needs?

[Tyler]

Ryan H., on 08 February 2011 - 11:58 AM, said:

For SPIDER-MAN: THE MUSICAL to be a "hit" and recoup its losses, it would have to be a hit unlike any other. Somehow, I don't see this being the new PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

What about Springtime for Hitler?

[Gina]

Christian, on 08 February 2011 - 11:31 AM, said:

The Washington Post ran a negative review this morning. ("Taymor has found a way to send her superhero soaring above the audience. And yet, the creature that most often spreads its wings in the Foxwoods is a turkey.")

That was the same line that caught my eye. Yowch!

I think some people are going to see it for the trainwreck value. But I doubt there are enough trainwreck fans to make it a hit.

[Gavin Breeden]

More bad reviews.

[John Drew]

According to the New York Times, the March 15th opening is canceled - performances will be shut down for two to three weeks of script and music retooling - and the opening is being pushed back to June.

Edited by Baal_T'shuvah, 09 March 2011 - 12:39 AM.